#replies (soobin)

"Oh...that looks like it had to hurt." Yet there Soobin stood watching as they attempted to recover from their faceplant of a fall, her arms casually crossed with her hand lifted just enough to sip on her drink. Another second, briefly contemplating helping, and eventually choosing to be somewhat helpful as she leaned down and grabbed under their arm and started to pull. "Come on. We're not far from my place, you can recover from your embarrassing moment there. Maybe someone around us got that on video," she joked, playfully looking around to see if anyone had their phone up.

Her entire body ached. Eight hours of practice with a few breaks thrown in there, all she wanted was to lay down and rest. She was booking a massage tomorrow for her sore back as soon as she woke up, but didn't have the energy to do it now. She pushed open her apartment door and nearly had a heart attack seeing a figure standing there in the dark, then scoffed out. "What are you doing standing like some monster? I'm too tired for this," she whined as she dropped her bag on the ground. "Couldn't you greet me with a warm welcome home, or...food? Just once?"

"When I said I wanted something nice, ramen in the front of a convivence store wasn't what I had in mind. But there is a certain charm to it." Soobin slurped at her noodles happily despite her wearing a dress and uncomfortable heels, clearly having expected a different night out. "Next time I'll have to return the favor. I think there's an even nicer store around the corner we can try."

"No teddy bear? Little heart plushies, chocolate...have you ever done a valentines day before?" Soobin shouldn't have been surprised, sometimes finding his ignorance of normal things a little cute. She wasn't disappointed. Just feeling a little silly she'd gotten him a gift complete with a cut fox plush holding a heart that squeaked out a little "I love you" whenever it was squeezed. "I thought it was cute!" she defended herself when she realized how insane it must have been.

"What are you holding? It looks dangerous."

"Let's think about this first." Soobin pressed her finger against their forehead so they'd pay attention to her, standing above where they sat so their attention couldn't go anywhere else. "The last time you wanted to go eat there, we both left with food poisoning. We were sick for days. So what's the reason you're suddenly dying to go back? Huh? I have to leave in three days for the tour, you think I want to spend our last three days together sick?"

Soobin pressed their forehead again. "Why do you want to go back there so bad? We can eat literally anywhere else you want to go to. Even that disgusting chicken place you love so much. But I'm not going back to sickville restaurant again."

Soobin thought they'd left. Feeling a little foolish for so easily letting herself get sucked in and actually thinking they'd had a connection, she tried to ignore the ache in her chest and start her day as she normally would when she was upset. Practice.

She'd showered, put herself in to some loose pants and top with the intention of heading to the studio, but paused with her bag slung over her shoulder when she saw them in the kitchen seemingly preparing a massive breakfast; Soobin didn't know she had enough ingredients to make any of this. She'd survived off of frozen, premade meals just to accommodate her busy schedule.

That ache in her chest subsided and her bag loosely fell to the floor. "You stayed...and you're working hard," she said, nodding towards them working on the stove. With a smile, Soobin grabbed a spoon and went to stand next to them ready to work. "What can I do to help?" she asked, scooting close until her side was pressed against theirs.